Skip to main content

Our Story


The idea of Seams French came around when my mom Elizabeth and I moved to Europe. It was about five years ago that I went off to grad school in the UK, while my parents decided to realize their dream of living in the south of France. I was studying contemporary art, and Elizabeth was developing her already considerable quilting skills by learning (and mastering) the techniques common to the region of Provence.

After two years I graduated and moved back to Canada to marry my beloved husband. We now live in Vancouver and absolutely love it! My parents live nearby in the same city for part of the year, but continue their French adventures on an annual basis.

Realizing that we work well together and have similar interests, Elizabeth and I have decided to begin our own sewing adventure. We consider it a bi-national effort of sorts, working together and separately as we see fit but constantly and enthusiastically. Elizabeth has developed her own line of fine linens which you can check out at www.seamsfrench.com, and loves the challenge of custom projects. I've taken a shine to quilting and have become the trusted apprentice, loving the process of colour selection, construction and the chance to learn a trade that so many of the women in my family have participated in at one time or other.

While Elizabeth is in France this blog is a way for us to communicate, but we're also hoping that other people who see this site and share similar interests will feel compelled to join in the conversation. Thanks for reading and happy threads!


-Leah Janzen

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Tristan Quilt at the V & A

On our recent visit to London, one of our first stops was at the Victoria and Albert Museum. Established in 1852 and named for Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, who were strong supporters of it's founding, the museum is a facility that is both educational and cultural, and open to everyone. It is here, in the "Medieval and Renaissance Gallery" that I finally saw the "Tristan Quilt", one of the earliest surviving quilts showing stuffed, corded whitework (known as "Boutis" in France). A Chihuly chandelier hangs in the grand lobby of the Victoria and Albert Museum. Medieval needlework was often a medium for storytelling. It told of wars and conquests, heros and warriors, love won and love lost, etc. Myths and legends were recorded for future generations through the nimble fingers of the artisans. Through the intricately depicted figures stitched into the Tristan Quilt, this classic Norman legend follows Tristan into battle...
6 comments
Read more

Boutis: Traditional French Needlework

" Piqûre de Marseilles" or "Boutis" is a traditional French hand stitched and corded needlework technique, which uses embroidery stitches to create intricate channels that will later be stuffed with yarn, thereby creating a raised design with three layers. It's origins, and it's name, can be traced to the port of Marseilles in southern France to the 15th century. Traditional boutis was a technique invented to embellish otherwise plain white cotton with intricately patterned channels that would later be stuffed with a plump white yarn to give it relief. The resulting corded whitework created an elegant, embossed textile that was much sought after. Not only was it aesthetically appealing, but it also provided warmth and absorbency, so could be used for bed coverings, toilette linens (like towels), clothing items, home decor, etc. The first two photos below are from the collection of Mme. Monique Alphand, a well known French expert and collector of antique t...
3 comments
Read more

Hawaiian Applique Quilting

While on a family vacation in Honolulu, Hawaii just before Christmas, my daughter and I managed to squeeze in a class teaching the basics of traditional Hawaiian quilting. At the end of the class, we both had a 22" x 22" cushion size Hawaiian Applique quilt ready to stitch. The coral coloured "Ulu" pattern below is my daughter's project.  Traditionally, the ulu is the first quilt made for the home to ensure that there will always be food on the table. The "Ulu" (Breadfruit) pattern, designed by John Serrao. It's the designs of these applique quilts that make Hawaiian quilts unique. Each pattern is individual to the maker of the quilt and symbolizes who they are. Although many of the patterns use a similar motif or symbol, (for example the "Ulu" pattern), when adapted by the quilter, it becomes personal to that quilter and unlike any other version. Ideally, each quilter should create her own design, but beginner's are gi...
9 comments
Read more